Formulaic Paragraph Construction (Pattern)

I. First sentence: Topic sentence

Your topic sentence should reference the authorand the literary work, thecontext of the passage, andthe overall idea of the text.

Character Analysis Example: In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird,Scout’s empathy or lack thereof, for Boo Radley represents her development of compassion and ability to see others from a more mature perspective.

Theme Analysis Example: In Todd Strasser’s “On the Bridge,” Seth’s parasitic relationship with Adam teachesone should be more careful when choosing friends in order to avoid physical and emotional harm.

II. Second sentence: Example #1

Your second sentence should offer a transition word or phrase (for example, for

instance, such as, in particular, chiefly, namely, etc) and a specific example to

support your topic sentence. Provide necessary context if needed.

III. Explanation/Analysis of the example

After you provide a specific example, you should explain HOW your example

supports the idea stated in the topic sentence.

*Questions to consider:

1) What is the author’s purpose for including this quote or detail?

2) How does the quote or detail demonstrate the author’s argument?

3) Why is this quote essential to the overall idea of the paragraph?

IV. Example 2

Your next sentence should offer a transition word or phrase (for example, for

instance, such as, in particular, chiefly, namely, etc) and a specific example to

support your topic sentence. Provide necessary context if needed.

V. Explanation/Analysis of the example

After you provide a specific example, you should explain HOW your example

supports the idea stated in the topic sentence. See *Questions to Consider above.

VI. Example 3

Your next sentence should offer a transition word or phrase (for example, for

instance, such as, in particular, chiefly, namely, etc) and a specific textexample to

support your topic sentence. Provide necessary context if needed.

VII. Explanation/Analysis of the example

After you provide a specific example, you should explain HOW your example

supports the idea stated in the topic sentence.

See *Questions to Consider above.

VIII. Concluding sentence

Without repeating word for word what the topic sentence states, your final

sentence should reflect the main idea of the paragraph and offer some additional insight

into the discussed idea of the paragraph.